Ohio came out in the second half with purpose, as Tyler Tettleton willed the team down the field to score a touchdown. Beau Blankenship capped things off with a three yard run after Tettleton went 6-6 passing for 78 yards.
Marshall responded to Ohio's drive by putting together one of their own. It was an impressive 6-yard drive that spanned 5:13 over 15 plays.
And wouldn't you know it, Ohio responded right back. It was nothing pretty, well at least not until the end of the drive. But combined with a few short plays, a nifty shovel pass on third and long to Matt Waters, and a timely pass interference on fourth and three, Ohio was able to put together a _ yard drive. Waters and Donte Foster would come up with timely receptions to keep it going to help Blankenship ultimately secure the TD, making it 31-17.
And well...Marshall responded on top of that. You get the picture. Rakeem Cato directed a 75-yard drive with relative ease to pull the Thundering Herd within seven.
After an Ohio punt, Cato would be picked off by Devin Bass who had a whale of a game for the Bobcats. The 'Cats would then turn their gold into cash by picking up a field goal, extending the lead to 34-24.
Marshall and Rakeem Cato would move the ball down the field again and would find themselves with first and goal. a snap would fall behind Cato who would still complete a pass to his receiver at the two yard line. A run on the next play would come up short and the Herd were faced with 3rd and goal from the one. Cato would waltz into the end zone on the next play.
The onside kick put a scare into more than a few of the Bobcat and Herd faithful, but skipped harmlessly out of bounds. After the kneel down, Ohio pulled out a 34-31 victory to claim the Battle for the Bell.